R227 million upgrade for a national road in one South African province

The Western Cape Government said that it is making good progress on its R227.2 million upgrade of the N9 and N12 between George and Oudtshoorn.

The province’s Department of Infrastructure explained that the project represents an investment aimed at improving road safety, strengthening regional connectivity and creating meaningful economic opportunities for local communities.

Work on the road began one year ago in October 2025, involving upgrades to a 5km stretch of the N9/N12 (TR1/1) .

Additionally, the project commenced repairs to, and the resealing of, approximately 2km of Waboomskraal Road, which intersects the main route.

The department said that construction is expected to wrap up by June 2028, if everything proceeds on schedule.

The provincial government noted that the N9/N12 is an important regional transport connection between George and Oudtshoorn.

It said that these upgrades are meant to improve road capacity, traffic flow and safety through several substantial engineering interventions, including:

• Widening the existing traffic lanes from 3.3m to 3.7m
• Protecting cut-and-fill slopes and establishing vegetation
• Improving the horizontal and vertical alignment of the road
• Installing new culverts and widening existing drainage structures
• Widening the road shoulders from 1.5m to 2m and surfacing them
• Installing concrete edge beams at accesses and minor intersections
• Replacing road signs, installing new guardrails and upgrading fencing
• Constructing a mechanically stabilised earth retaining wall approximately 800m long

Meanwhile, work on Waboomskraal Road includes road patching, edge repairs, drainage maintenance, and the reconstruction of the intersection with the N9/N12.

Additionally, protected plant species along the route have been temporarily relocated while construction is underway.

Supporting local residents and businesses

The department said that, beyond the physical road improvements, the project is contributing to local economic participation by creating job and procurement opportunities.

Western Cape Minister of Infrastructure Tertuis Simmers recently visited the site to assess its progress.

“Our investment in the N9/N12 is about more than upgrading a road. It is about making journeys safer, improving connectivity between communities and ensuring that infrastructure investment creates opportunities for local people,” he said.

Over the last year, the project has created 102 work opportunities against a target of 240, and generated 9,424 person-days of labour against a target of 34,000.

More than R8.5 million in goods and services have been procured against a target of R32.5 million, and six contracts have been concluded against a target of 21.

Two of the contracts were concluded with emerging contractors, and the department aims to add at least four more by the time construction ends in 2028.

“These figures represent opportunities for workers, local contractors and businesses to participate in building the infrastructure our province needs,” said the minister.

“Every infrastructure project must ultimately be measured not only by what we build, but also by the difference it makes in people’s lives.”

“We will continue monitoring progress closely to ensure that this investment delivers lasting value for motorists, communities and the regional economy.”

Construction on the N9/N12 in the Western Cape